US20010041642A1 - Toroidal type continuous variable speed transmission - Google Patents
Toroidal type continuous variable speed transmission Download PDFInfo
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- US20010041642A1 US20010041642A1 US09/850,148 US85014801A US2001041642A1 US 20010041642 A1 US20010041642 A1 US 20010041642A1 US 85014801 A US85014801 A US 85014801A US 2001041642 A1 US2001041642 A1 US 2001041642A1
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- variable speed
- continuous variable
- speed transmission
- toroidal type
- type continuous
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- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F16—ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
- F16H—GEARING
- F16H61/00—Control functions within control units of change-speed- or reversing-gearings for conveying rotary motion ; Control of exclusively fluid gearing, friction gearing, gearings with endless flexible members or other particular types of gearing
- F16H61/66—Control functions within control units of change-speed- or reversing-gearings for conveying rotary motion ; Control of exclusively fluid gearing, friction gearing, gearings with endless flexible members or other particular types of gearing specially adapted for continuously variable gearings
- F16H61/664—Friction gearings
- F16H61/6648—Friction gearings controlling of shifting being influenced by a signal derived from the engine and the main coupling
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- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F16—ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
- F16H—GEARING
- F16H37/00—Combinations of mechanical gearings, not provided for in groups F16H1/00 - F16H35/00
- F16H37/02—Combinations of mechanical gearings, not provided for in groups F16H1/00 - F16H35/00 comprising essentially only toothed or friction gearings
- F16H37/06—Combinations of mechanical gearings, not provided for in groups F16H1/00 - F16H35/00 comprising essentially only toothed or friction gearings with a plurality of driving or driven shafts; with arrangements for dividing torque between two or more intermediate shafts
- F16H37/08—Combinations of mechanical gearings, not provided for in groups F16H1/00 - F16H35/00 comprising essentially only toothed or friction gearings with a plurality of driving or driven shafts; with arrangements for dividing torque between two or more intermediate shafts with differential gearing
- F16H37/0833—Combinations of mechanical gearings, not provided for in groups F16H1/00 - F16H35/00 comprising essentially only toothed or friction gearings with a plurality of driving or driven shafts; with arrangements for dividing torque between two or more intermediate shafts with differential gearing with arrangements for dividing torque between two or more intermediate shafts, i.e. with two or more internal power paths
- F16H37/084—Combinations of mechanical gearings, not provided for in groups F16H1/00 - F16H35/00 comprising essentially only toothed or friction gearings with a plurality of driving or driven shafts; with arrangements for dividing torque between two or more intermediate shafts with differential gearing with arrangements for dividing torque between two or more intermediate shafts, i.e. with two or more internal power paths at least one power path being a continuously variable transmission, i.e. CVT
- F16H37/086—CVT using two coaxial friction members cooperating with at least one intermediate friction member
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- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F16—ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
- F16H—GEARING
- F16H37/00—Combinations of mechanical gearings, not provided for in groups F16H1/00 - F16H35/00
- F16H37/02—Combinations of mechanical gearings, not provided for in groups F16H1/00 - F16H35/00 comprising essentially only toothed or friction gearings
- F16H37/06—Combinations of mechanical gearings, not provided for in groups F16H1/00 - F16H35/00 comprising essentially only toothed or friction gearings with a plurality of driving or driven shafts; with arrangements for dividing torque between two or more intermediate shafts
- F16H37/08—Combinations of mechanical gearings, not provided for in groups F16H1/00 - F16H35/00 comprising essentially only toothed or friction gearings with a plurality of driving or driven shafts; with arrangements for dividing torque between two or more intermediate shafts with differential gearing
- F16H37/0833—Combinations of mechanical gearings, not provided for in groups F16H1/00 - F16H35/00 comprising essentially only toothed or friction gearings with a plurality of driving or driven shafts; with arrangements for dividing torque between two or more intermediate shafts with differential gearing with arrangements for dividing torque between two or more intermediate shafts, i.e. with two or more internal power paths
- F16H37/084—Combinations of mechanical gearings, not provided for in groups F16H1/00 - F16H35/00 comprising essentially only toothed or friction gearings with a plurality of driving or driven shafts; with arrangements for dividing torque between two or more intermediate shafts with differential gearing with arrangements for dividing torque between two or more intermediate shafts, i.e. with two or more internal power paths at least one power path being a continuously variable transmission, i.e. CVT
- F16H2037/088—Power split variators with summing differentials, with the input of the CVT connected or connectable to the input shaft
- F16H2037/0886—Power split variators with summing differentials, with the input of the CVT connected or connectable to the input shaft with switching means, e.g. to change ranges
Definitions
- the present invention relates to a toroidal type continuous variable speed transmission utilized for a transmission unit constituting an automatic transmission utilized for a transmission unit use in automobiles, and more particularly to a toroidal type continuous variable speed transmission for reducing the driver's uncomfortable feeling by restraining variations in gear ratio attributable to trunnions and elastic deformation.
- a toroidal type continuous variable speed transmission illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, to be used as an automatic transmission for automobiles is implemented in some vehicles.
- this toroidal type continuous variable speed transmission as disclosed in the Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 62-71465, an input side disk 2 is supported concentrically with an input shaft 1 , and an output side disk 4 is fixed to an end of an output shaft 3 arranged concentrically with this input shaft 1 .
- trunnions 7 accommodating the toroidal type continuous variable speed transmission as shown in FIG. 4 to be described later on, there are provided trunnions 7 , each rocking around an axis 6 .
- the axes 6 are in an isolated positional relationship having certain angles with the directions of the input shaft 1 and the output shaft 3 .
- lines in an isolated positional relationship having certain angles will be referred to as skew lines.
- Each of the trunnions 7 has a pair of axes 6 on the outer faces of its both ends, the axes 6 being arranged concentrically for each trunnion 7 .
- the central axis linking paired axes 6 does not cross the central axis of the input side disk 2 and the output side disk 4 , but is a skew line at an exactly or substantially right angle with the direction of the central axis of the input side disk 2 and the output side disk 4 .
- the central part of each of the trunnions 7 supports the base half of a displacement shaft 8 , whose inclination angle can be freely controlled by rocking the trunnion 7 around the axes 6 .
- power rollers 9 are supported rotatably. Each of these power rollers 9 is held between the inner face 2 a of the input side disk 2 and the inner face 4 a of the output side disk 4 .
- Each of the mutually opposing inner faces 2 a and 4 a of the input side and output side disks 2 and 4 forms a concave having a circular section, obtained by rotating an arc or an arc-like curve centering on the axis 6 .
- the circumferential face 9 a of each of the power rollers 9 formed in a spherical convex, is kept in contact with the inner faces 2 a and 4 a .
- a pressing device 10 such as a loading cam device, and the input side disk 2 is driven rotatably while being elastically pressed by this pressing device 10 toward the output side disk 4 .
- the pressing device 10 turns the input side disk 2 while pressing it against the plurality of power rollers 9 along with the rotation of the input shaft 1 .
- the rotation of this input side disk 2 is transmitted to the output side disk 4 via the plurality of power rollers 9 , and the output shaft 3 fixed to this output side disk 4 turns.
- each of the trunnions 7 is rocked, and each displacement shaft 8 is inclined so that the circumferential faces 9 a of the power rollers 9 come into contact with the closer-to-the-periphery part of the inner face 2 a of the input side disk 2 and the closer-to-the-center part of the inner face 4 a of the output side disk 4 as shown in FIG. 2. If the angle of inclination of each displacement shaft 8 is selected between the angles shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, an intermediate gear ratio can be obtained between the input shaft 1 and the output shaft 3 .
- FIGS. 3 and 4 illustrate more specifically a toroidal type continuous variable speed transmission, described in the microfilm version of the Japanese Utility Model Application No. 63-69293 (Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 1-173552).
- the input side disk 2 and the output side disk 4 are rotatably supported by a tubular input shaft 11 .
- a pressing device 10 is provided between an end part of this input shaft 11 and the input side disk 2 .
- an output gear 12 is coupled with the output side disk 4 , and they rotate in synchronism.
- Axes 6 provided at two ends of a pair of trunnions 7 concentrically with each other are supported by a pair of yokes 13 rockingly and rotatably in axial directions (the direction normal to the surface of FIG. 3 and the vertical direction in FIG. 4).
- a middle part of each of the trunnions 7 supports the base half of a displacement shaft 8 .
- the base half and the outer half of each of the displacement shafts 8 are mutually eccentric.
- the base half is rotatably supported by the middle part of each trunnion 7 , whose outer half rotatably supports power rollers 9 .
- Between the end parts of the trunnions 7 is stretched a synchronous cable 27 diagonally so that the angles of inclination of these trunnions 7 can be mechanically synchronized.
- the pair of displacement shafts 8 are positioned 180 degrees reverse to the input shaft 11 .
- the direction in which the base half and the outer half of each of these displacement shafts 8 are eccentric is in the same direction as the turning directions of the input side and output side disks 2 and 4 (vertically reverse in FIG. 4).
- the direction of eccentricity is substantially normal to the direction in which the input shaft 11 is disposed. Therefore, the power rollers 9 are supported somewhat rotatably in the direction in which the input shaft 11 is disposed.
- each of the power rollers 9 and the inner face of the middle part of each of the trunnions 7 are provided, from the outer face of the power roller 9 outward, a thrust ball bearing 14 and a thrust needle bearing 15 .
- the thrust ball bearing 14 while bearing the load working on the power rollers 9 in the thrust direction, permits these power rollers 9 to turn.
- Each thrust needle bearing 15 while bearing a thrust load working from the power roller 9 on an outer race 16 constituting part of the thrust ball bearing 14 , permits the outer half of each displacement shaft 8 and the outer race 16 to rock around the base half of each displacement shaft 8 .
- Each of the trunnions 7 is made displaceable by a hydraulic actuator (hydraulic cylinder) 17 in the axial direction of the axis 6 .
- the rotation of the input shaft 11 is transmitted to the input side disk 2 via the pressing device 10 .
- the rotation of this input side disk 2 is further transmitted to the output side disk 4 via a pair of power rollers 9 , and the rotation of this output side disk 4 is then taken out of the output gear 12 .
- the paired trunnions 7 are displaced in mutually reverse directions with the actuator 17 , for instance to move the power rollers 9 on the righthand side of FIG. 4 toward a lower part of the figure and the power rollers 9 on the lefthand side of FIG. 4 toward an upper part of the figure.
- the direction of tangential force working on contact parts between the circumferential faces 9 a of these power rollers 9 and the inner faces 2 a and 4 a of the input side disk 2 and the output side disk 4 changes.
- a control valve 18 has a sleeve 20 , which is displaced in the axial direction (the lateral direction in FIG.
- a precess cam 23 is fitted to an end of a rod 22 attached to one of the trunnions 7 , and there is configured a feedback mechanism which transmits the motion of the rod 22 to the spool 21 via this precess cam 23 and a link arm 24 .
- the power rollers 9 are displaced in the axial direction of the input shaft 11 according to the elastic deformations of various constituent elements. Then the displacement shafts 8 supporting the power rollers 9 slightly turn around their respective base halves. As a result of this turn, the outer faces of the outer races of the thrust ball bearings 14 and the inner faces of the trunnions 7 are displaced relative to each other. As there are the thrust needle bearings 15 between these outer faces and inner faces, the force required for these relative displacements is small.
- the so-called double cavity structure to increase the transmissible torque by providing, as illustrated in FIGS. 5 through 7, two each of input side disks 2 A and 2 B and output side disks 4 around an input shaft 11 a and arranging in parallel, with respect to the direction of power transmission, the input side disk 2 A and 2 B and the output side disks 4 is also known according to the prior art.
- This structure shown in FIGS. 5 through 7 supports an output gear 12 a around the middle part of the input shaft 11 a and rotatably with respect to the input shaft 11 a , and the output side disks 4 are spline-engaged with the two ends of a cylindrical portion provided in the core part of this output gear 12 a .
- the input side disks 2 A and 2 B are supported at the two ends of the input shaft 11 a to be rotatable with this input shaft 11 a .
- This input shaft 11 a is rotationally driven by a driving shaft 25 via the loading cam type pressing device 10 .
- the driving force of the engine is transmitted by the toroidal type continuous variable speed transmission alone, and when it is running fast, the driving force is transmitted by the planetary gear mechanism, so that the torque working on the toroidal type continuous variable speed transmission during fast running can be reduced.
- This configuration can contribute to increasing the durability of the constituent elements of the toroidal type continuous variable speed transmission.
- FIG. 8 illustrates the continuous variable speed transmission described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 10-196759 out of the references cited above.
- This continuous variable speed transmission has a start clutch 30 arranged between the output side end (the right end in FIG. 8) of the crankshaft 28 of an engine 26 , which is the source of driving force, and the input side end (the left end in FIG. 8) of an input shaft 29 .
- An output shaft 31 for taking out the motive force deriving from the rotation of the input shaft 29 is arranged in parallel with this input shaft 29 .
- Around this input shaft 29 is provided a toroidal type continuous variable speed transmission 32 , and around the output shaft 31 , a planetary gear mechanism 33 .
- a cam plate 34 constituting the pressing device 10 for the toroidal type continuous variable speed transmission 32 is fixed to a part toward the output side end (toward the right in FIG. 8) in the middle part of the input shaft 29 .
- These input side disk 2 and output side disk 4 are rotatably supported by bearings not shown, including needle bearings, around the input shaft 29 independently of each other with respect to this input shaft 29 .
- the cam plate 34 and the input side disk 2 constitute the pressing device 10 . Therefore, the input side disk 2 , along with the rotation of the input shaft 29 , rotates while being pressed against the output side disk 4 .
- a plurality of power rollers 9 are held between the inner face 2 a of the input side disk 2 and the inner face 4 a of the output side disk 4 to constitute the toroidal type continuous variable speed transmission 32 described above with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4.
- This toroidal type continuous variable speed transmission 32 is not limited to single cavity type structures illustrated in FIGS. 8, 3 and 4 , but may as well have the double cavity structure described above with reference to FIGS. 5 and 6.
- a continuous variable speed transmission into which a double cavity toroidal type continuous variable speed transmission is incorporated is described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 11-63146 cited above among others.
- a sun gear 35 constituting the core of the planetary gear mechanism 33 is fixed to the input side end (the right end in FIG. 8) of the output shaft 31 . Therefore, this output shaft 31 rotates along with the rotation of the sun gear 35 .
- Around this sun gear 35 are supported ring gears 36 concentrically and rotatably with the sun gear 35 .
- a plurality of (usually three or four) planetary gear sets 37 are provided between the inner circumferential faces of these ring gears 36 and the outer circumferential face of the sun gear 35 .
- each of these planetary gear sets 37 consists of a pair of planetary gears 38 a and 38 b .
- each planetary gear set 37 comprising a pair of planetary gears 38 a and 38 b is intended to align the turning directions of the ring gears 36 and of the sun gear 35 . Therefore, if relations with other constituent elements make it unnecessary to align the turning directions of the ring gears 36 and of the sun gear 35 , a single planetary gear may be engaged with both the ring gears 36 and the sun gear 35 instead.
- the planetary gear sets 37 described above are supported rotatably on one side face (the right side face in FIG. 8) of a carrier 39 . This carrier 39 is rotatably supported by the middle part of the output shaft 31 .
- the carrier 39 and the output side disk 4 is connected by a first power transmission mechanism 40 in a state where rotational force can be transmitted.
- the first power transmission mechanism 40 constituting a first power transmission path stated in claim 2 of the cited specification is configured of mutually engaged first and second gears 41 and 42 . Therefore, the carrier 39 turns at a speed matching the numbers of teeth of the first and second gears 41 and 42 along with the rotation of the output side disk 4 in the direction reverse to that of this output side disk 4 .
- the input shaft 29 and the ring gears 36 can be connected by a second power transmission mechanism 43 in a state permitting transmission of rotational force.
- the second power transmission mechanism 43 which constitutes a second power transmission path stated in claim 2 of the cited specification, is configured of first and second sprockets 44 and 45 and a chain 46 spanning between these two sprockets 44 and 45 .
- the first sprocket 44 is fixed to a part projecting from the cam plate 34 at the output side end (the right end in FIG. 8) of the input shaft 29
- the second sprocket 45 is fixed to the input side end (the right end in FIG. 8) of a transmission shaft 47 . Therefore, this transmission shaft 47 turns along with the rotation of the input shaft 29 in the same direction as this input shaft 29 at a speed matching the numbers of teeth of the first and second sprockets 44 and 45 .
- the continuous variable speed transmission is provided with a clutch mechanism constituting mode switching member stated in claim 2 of the cited specification.
- This clutch mechanism connects either, not both, the carrier 39 or the transmission shaft 47 , which is a constituent member of the second power transmission mechanism 43 , to the ring gears 36 .
- this clutch mechanism consists of a low speed clutch 48 and a high speed clutch 49 .
- the low speed clutch 48 is provided between the outer periphery of the carrier 39 and one end of the ring gears 36 in the axial direction (the left end in FIG. 8).
- This low speed clutch 48 when engaged, prevents relative displacement among the sun gear 35 and the ring gears 36 constituting the planetary gear mechanism 33 relative to the planetary gear sets 37 , and integrally couples these sun gear 35 and ring gears 36 .
- the high speed clutch 49 is provided between the transmission shaft 47 and the central axis 51 fixed to the ring gears 36 via a yoke 50 . Of these low speed clutch 48 and high speed clutch 49 , when one of them is engaged, the other is disengaged.
- a reverse clutch 52 is provided between the ring gears 36 and fixed parts including a housing (not shown) for the continuous variable speed transmission.
- This reverse clutch 52 is provided to turn the output shaft 31 in the reverse direction to cause the vehicle to run backward.
- This reverse clutch 52 is disengaged when either the low speed clutch 48 or the high speed clutch 49 is engaged.
- both the low speed clutch 48 and the high speed clutch 49 are disengaged.
- the output shaft 31 and a differential gear 53 are connected to a third power transmission mechanism 57 consisting of third through firth gears 54 through 56 . Therefore, when the output shaft 31 rotates, a pair of driving shafts 58 are turned via these third power transmission mechanism 57 and differential gear 53 to cause the driving wheels of the vehicle to rotate.
- the planetary gear sets 37 revolve around the sun gear 35 , and the total gear ratio of the continuous variable speed transmission varies according to the revolving speed of each of the planetary gear sets 37 . Therefore, by varying the gear ratio of the toroidal type continuous variable speed transmission 32 and the revolving speed of the planetary gear sets 37 , the total gear ratio of the continuous variable speed transmission can be controlled.
- each of the planetary gear sets 37 revolves in the same direction as the ring gears 36 .
- the lower the revolving speed of the planetary gear sets 37 the higher the rotating speed of the output shaft 31 to which the sun gear 35 is fixed.
- the ring gears 36 and the output shaft 31 will turn at the same speed.
- the revolving speed is lower than the rotational speed of the ring gears 36
- the output shaft 31 will turn faster than the ring gears 36 .
- the output shaft 31 will turn less fast than the ring gears 36 .
- part of the torque transmitted via the second power transmission mechanism 43 to the ring gears 36 of the planetary gear mechanism 33 is transmitted from the planetary gear sets 37 via the carrier 39 and the first power transmission mechanism 40 to the output side disk 4 .
- the torque applied from the output side disk 4 to the toroidal type continuous variable speed transmission 32 decreases as the gear ratio of the toroidal type continuous variable speed transmission 32 is varied more toward the deceleration side so as to vary the total gear ratio of the continuous variable speed transmission toward the acceleration side.
- the durability of the constituent elements of this toroidal type continuous variable speed transmission 32 can be enhanced.
- FIG. 9 illustrates a typical state of variations, with the total gear ratio (itotal) of the continuous variable speed transmission shown in FIG. 8 above being continuously varied, in the gear ratio of the toroidal type continuous variable speed transmission 32 (icvt), the input torque (T in ) inputted to this toroidal type continuous variable speed transmission 32 and the output torque (T s ) taken out of the output shaft 31 of the continuous variable speed transmission.
- the relationships among these gear ratios (itotal) and (icvt) and the torques (T in ) and (T s ) vary with the speed change range of the toroidal type continuous variable speed transmission 32 , the structure and tooth number ratio of the planetary gear mechanism 33 , and the reduction gear ratio of the second power transmission mechanism 43 .
- the speed change range of the toroidal type continuous variable speed transmission 32 was selected to be up to about four times (0.5 to 2.0)
- the planetary gear mechanism 33 was supposed to be composed of planetary gear sets 37 each consisting of a pair of planetary gears 38 a or 38 b
- the reduction gear ratio of the second power transmission mechanism 43 was selected to be about two. Switching between the low speed clutch 48 and the high speed clutch 49 was supposed to be done when the total gear ratio (itotal) of the continuous variable speed transmission was one.
- the vertical axis represents the gear ratio (icvt) of the toroidal type continuous variable speed transmission 32 and the ratio between the input torque (T in ) of the toroidal type continuous variable speed transmission 32 or the output torque (T s ) of the continuous variable speed transmission and the (T e ) transmitted from the engine 26 to the input shaft 29 (FIG. 8) (T in /T e ) or (T s /T e ), and the horizontal axis, the total gear ratio (itotal) of the continuous variable speed transmission.
- the negative value of the gear ratio (icvt) of the toroidal type continuous variable speed transmission 32 is because of the reverse direction of the rotation of the output side disk 4 (FIG. 8) incorporated into the toroidal type continuous variable speed transmission 32 to that of the input shaft 29 .
- the solid line a represents the gear ratio (icvt) of the toroidal type continuous variable speed transmission 32 ; the broken line b, the ratio between the output torque (T s ) and the torque (T e ) transmitted from the engine 26 to the input shaft 29 (T s /T e ); and the chain line c, the ratio between the input torque (T in ) and the torque (T e ) transmitted from the engine 26 to the output shaft 29 (T in /T e ).
- the continuous variable speed transmission described above with reference to FIG. 8 can serve to reduce the torque working on the toroidal type continuous variable speed transmission 32 during fast running.
- the input torque (T in ) can be reduced at the maximum to about 14% of the torque (T e ) transmitted from the engine 26 to the input shaft 29 .
- the toroidal type continuous variable speed transmission to be used in the state of being incorporated into the continuous variable speed transmission described above involves the risk of unnecessary variation of the gear ratio, irrespective of the open/close control of the control valve 18 by the precess cam 23 , under the impact of elastic deformation of constituent elements of the toroidal type continuous variable speed transmission 32 when the input torque varies.
- This unnecessary variation of the gear ratio might invite an abrupt change in engine revolutions and a consequent uncomfortable feeling on the part of the driver. This point will be explained below with reference to FIGS. 10 and 11.
- the precess cam 23 is supported by and fixed to the tip (the right end in FIG. 10) or the rod 22 whose base end (the left end in FIG. 10) is coupled and fixed to one of the trunnions 7 .
- the trunnion 7 is subjected to a heavy thrust load F from the power rollers 9 supported on its inner face side.
- the inner face of the trunnion 7 is elastically deformed in the direction of making that side concave according to this thrust load, and according to this elastic deformation the rod 22 whose base end is coupled and fixed to an end of the trunnion 7 is deformed in the direction of arrow (in FIG. 10.
- the present inventors found by experiment that the fitting posture of the precess cam 23 relative to the rod 22 affected the magnitude of the gear ratio variation, and on that basis invented a toroidal type continuous variable speed transmission capable of suppressing the unnecessary gear ratio variation.
- a toroidal type continuous variable speed transmission like the known toroidal type continuous variable speed transmissions described above, comprises: an input side disk and an output side disk whose inner faces, each being a concave having a circular section, oppose each other, each disk being concentrically and rotatably supported; a plurality of trunnions rocking around axes each being skew with respect to the central axis of these input side disk and output side disk; displacement shafts each supported by a middle part of one or another of the trunnions so as to project from the inner face of the trunnion; power rollers arranged on the inner face side of these trunnions and, in a state of being put between the input side disk and the output side disk, supported rotatably around the displacement shafts, each power roller having a spherically convex circumferential face; hydraulic actuators, one provided for each trunnion to rockingly displace the trunnion by disp
- a precess cam is fixed to a member displaced together with one of the trunnions, and a feedback mechanism to transmit the displacement of this precess cam to the control valve via a link arm is provided so as to transmit the motion of the trunnion to this control valve and thereby to make possible switching of the feeding/discharging state by this control valve.
- the position of contact between the precess cam and the link arm is placed closer to the input side disk than the central axis of the trunnion provided with the precess cam.
- the toroidal type continuous variable speed transmission according to the invention is intended to suppress any variation of the gear ratio due to an abrupt change in torque and thereby to reduce a consequent uncomfortable feeling on the part of the driver.
- FIG. 1 is a side view of the basic structure of a toroidal type continuous variable speed transmission at the time of maximum deceleration
- FIG. 2 is a side view of the basic structure of the toroidal type continuous variable speed transmission at the time of maximum acceleration;
- FIG. 3 illustrates a cross-sectional view of the essential part of an example of a specific toroidal type continuous variable speed transmission structure according to the prior art
- FIG. 4 shows a cross-sectional view of the structure of FIG. 3 taken along the line 4 - 4 ;
- FIG. 5 illustrates a cross-sectional view of the essential part of another example of a specific toroidal type continuous variable speed transmission structure according to the prior art
- FIG. 6 shows a cross-sectional view of the structure of FIG. 5 taken along the line 6 - 6 ;
- FIG. 7 shows a cross-sectional view of the structure of FIG. 5 taken along the line 7 - 7 ;
- FIG. 8 illustrates a cross-sectional view of one example of continuous variable speed transmission into which a toroidal type continuous variable speed transmission is incorporated;
- FIG. 9 is a graph showing the relationship among the total gear ratio of the continuous variable speed transmission ratio, the gear ratio of the toroidal type continuous variable speed transmission alone, and the torque ratios of different parts of the system;
- FIG. 10 shows a cross-sectional view for illustrating how an experiment was carried out to measure the displacement of a precess cam based on the deformation of a trunnion
- FIG. 11 is a graph showing the relationship between the torque working on trunnions figured out on the basis of experimental results and the displacement of the precess cam;
- FIG. 12 illustrates a toroidal type continuous variable speed transmission, which is a first preferred embodiment of the present invention
- FIG. 13 is a graph showing variations in gear ratio along with input torque variations in the toroidal type continuous variable speed transmission according to the invention.
- FIG. 14 illustrates the bottom of one example of toroidal type continuous variable speed transmission outside the scope of the invention
- FIG. 15 is a graph showing variations in gear ratio along with input torque variations in the toroidal type continuous variable speed transmission outside the scope of the invention.
- FIG. 16 is a graph showing the relationship between the input torque magnitude and the total gear ratio in the toroidal type continuous variable speed transmission according to the invention and the toroidal type continuous variable speed transmission outside the scope of the invention.
- the toroidal type continuous variable speed transmission according to the present invention is characterized by the regulation of the position of contact between the precess cam 23 and the link arm 24 to suppress gear ratio variations deriving from torque variations. Structures of other illustrated constituent elements and actions to transmit power between the input and output sections or to change the gear ratio between these input and output sections are similar to their respective counterparts in the known toroidal type continuous variable speed transmission described above with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4 and FIGS. 5 through 7 or in the known toroidal type continuous variable speed transmission 32 incorporated into the continuous variable speed transmission illustrated in FIG. 8. Description of similar parts is dispensed with in the following.
- FIG. 12 illustrates a state in which the invention is implemented in the form of a double cavity toroidal type continuous variable speed transmission described above with reference to FIGS. 5 through 7.
- two input side disks 2 A and 2 B are arranged toward the respectively left and right ends, and two output side disks 4 are arranged toward the center.
- a precess cam 23 is supported by and fixed to the tip of a rod 22 , the one positioned in the bottom left part of FIG. 12, out of four rods 22 the base end of each of which is coupled and fixed to one end of one or another of a total four trunnions, of which two are provided in each cavity.
- the tip of a link arm 24 is kept in contact with the cam face 60 of this precess cam 23 .
- the rod 22 rotates in the skew direction while being displaced in the axial direction (the direction normal to the surface of FIG. 12), and thereby rotates the link arm 24 .
- a spool 21 which is on a skew line to the rod 22 and constitutes a control valve is displaced in the axial direction (the vertical direction in FIG. 12).
- the link arm 24 is positioned closer to the input side disk 2 A side (the left side in FIG. 12) than the rod 22 . Therefore, the position of contact between the cam face 60 of the precess cam 23 and the tip of the link arm 24 is in a position closer to the input side disk 2 A than the central axis of the trunnion provided with this precess cam 23 , i.e. the central axis of the rod 22 .
- the toroidal type continuous variable speed transmission according to the invention configured as described above can suppress any variation of the gear ratio due to an abrupt change in torque and thereby reduce a consequent uncomfortable feeling on the part of the driver. That is, experiment by the inventors revealed that, where the position of contact between the cam face 60 of the precess cam 23 and the link arm 24 was placed closer to the input side disk 2 A than the central axis of the trunnion provided with the precess cam 23 , which is the central axis of the rod 22 , the gear ratio variation could be suppressed more than in the case of placing the position of contact elsewhere. This point will be described in further detail with reference to FIGS. 13 through 16.
- FIG. 13 shows the result of an experiment carried out to know the impact of variations in the torque inputted to a toroidal type continuous variable speed transmission on the gear ratio of this toroidal type continuous variable speed transmission in a structure wherein, as shown in FIG. 12, the position of contact between the cam face 60 of the precess cam 23 and the tip of the link arm 24 is brought closer to the input side disk 2 A side.
- a curve a represents the magnitude of the torque inputted to the toroidal type continuous variable speed transmission
- a curve b the gear ratio of this toroidal type continuous variable speed transmission.
- FIG. 14 illustrates a toroidal type continuous variable speed transmission in which the position of contact between the cam face 60 of the precess cam 23 and the tip of the link arm 24 is brought closer to the output side disk 4 side.
- FIG. 15 shows the result of an experiment carried out to know the impact of variations in the torque inputted to a toroidal type continuous variable speed transmission on the gear ratio of the toroidal type continuous variable speed transmission shown in FIG. 14.
- a curve a′ represents the magnitude of the torque inputted to the toroidal type continuous variable speed transmission
- a curve b′ the gear ratio of this toroidal type continuous variable speed transmission.
- the gear ratio varies toward the deceleration relatively significantly in the early phase of increasing the input torque, and the gear ratio gradually increases as the torque is further increased. Therefore, the gear ratio varies significantly over the whole range of torque variations.
- FIG. 16 compares the experimental result regarding the structure according to the invention shown in FIG. 13 and that of the structure deviating from the invention shown in FIG. 15.
- a curve c represents the gear ratio represented by the curve b in FIG. 13 in terms of its relationship to the torque represented by the curve a in the same graph.
- a curve d represents the gear ratio represented by the curve b′ in FIG. 15 in terms of its relationship to the torque represented by the curve a′ in the same graph.
- the middle parts are double lines based on the hysteresis.
- the structure according to the invention can reduce the range of gear ratio variations deriving from torque variations.
- the structure according to the invention can reduce the range of gear ratio variations and thereby alleviate the uncomfortable feeling the driver might have.
- the torque inputted to the toroidal type continuous variable speed transmission 32 at the time of mode switching greatly varies including reversing between positive and negative values, the gear ratio variations can be suppressed even in this case.
- the switching between the low speed and high speed modes is performed when the gear ratio of the toroidal type continuous variable speed transmission 32 is on the acceleration side.
- the foregoing description referred to a so-called power split continuous variable speed transmission system combining a toroidal type continuous variable speed transmission and a planetary gear mechanism, which reduces the toque working on the toroidal type continuous variable speed transmission during high speed running and thereby increases the durability of the constituent elements of the toroidal type continuous variable speed transmission by transmitting the driving force of the engine via the toroidal type continuous variable speed transmission alone during low speed running and transmitting the driving force via the planetary gear mechanism during high speed running.
- the invention can also be effectively applied to a toroidal type continuous variable speed transmission to be incorporated into a so-called geared neutral continuous variable speed transmission system, which combines a toroidal type continuous variable speed transmission and a planetary gear mechanism and can realize zero output revolutions without having to use a start clutch.
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Abstract
In a toroidal type continuous variable speed transmission, a control valve for displacing trunnions is controlled by supporting and fixing a precess cam at an end of a rod displaced together with one of the trunnions. Therefore, when the torque inputted to the toroidal type continuous variable speed transmission is greatly varied by the treading on or releasing of the accelerator, there is the risk that an unnecessary variation of the gear ratio invite an abrupt change in engine revolutions and a consequent uncomfortable feeling on the part of the driver. A tip of a link arm is brought into contact with the cam face of a precess cam, and the control valve is switched according to any variation of the trunnion. Further, the contact position between the cam face and the tip of the link arm is placed closer to the input side disk side. This configuration makes it possible to suppress the influence of elastic deformation of trunnions and to solve the problem noted above.
Description
- 1 . Field of the Invention
- The present invention relates to a toroidal type continuous variable speed transmission utilized for a transmission unit constituting an automatic transmission utilized for a transmission unit use in automobiles, and more particularly to a toroidal type continuous variable speed transmission for reducing the driver's uncomfortable feeling by restraining variations in gear ratio attributable to trunnions and elastic deformation.
- 2. Description of the Related Art
- A toroidal type continuous variable speed transmission, illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, to be used as an automatic transmission for automobiles is implemented in some vehicles. In this toroidal type continuous variable speed transmission, as disclosed in the Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 62-71465, an
input side disk 2 is supported concentrically with aninput shaft 1, and anoutput side disk 4 is fixed to an end of anoutput shaft 3 arranged concentrically with thisinput shaft 1. Within acasing 5, accommodating the toroidal type continuous variable speed transmission as shown in FIG. 4 to be described later on, there are providedtrunnions 7, each rocking around anaxis 6. Theaxes 6 are in an isolated positional relationship having certain angles with the directions of theinput shaft 1 and theoutput shaft 3. Hereinafter in this specification, lines in an isolated positional relationship having certain angles will be referred to as skew lines. - Each of the
trunnions 7 has a pair ofaxes 6 on the outer faces of its both ends, theaxes 6 being arranged concentrically for eachtrunnion 7. The central axis linking pairedaxes 6 does not cross the central axis of theinput side disk 2 and theoutput side disk 4, but is a skew line at an exactly or substantially right angle with the direction of the central axis of theinput side disk 2 and theoutput side disk 4. The central part of each of thetrunnions 7 supports the base half of adisplacement shaft 8, whose inclination angle can be freely controlled by rocking thetrunnion 7 around theaxes 6. Around the outer halves of thedisplacement shafts 8, each supported by one of thetrunnions 7,power rollers 9 are supported rotatably. Each of thesepower rollers 9 is held between theinner face 2 a of theinput side disk 2 and theinner face 4 a of theoutput side disk 4. - Each of the mutually opposing
inner faces output side disks axis 6. Thecircumferential face 9 a of each of thepower rollers 9, formed in a spherical convex, is kept in contact with theinner faces input shaft 1 and theinput side disk 2 is provided apressing device 10, such as a loading cam device, and theinput side disk 2 is driven rotatably while being elastically pressed by thispressing device 10 toward theoutput side disk 4. - When the toroidal type continuous variable speed transmission configured as described above is used, the
pressing device 10 turns theinput side disk 2 while pressing it against the plurality ofpower rollers 9 along with the rotation of theinput shaft 1. The rotation of thisinput side disk 2 is transmitted to theoutput side disk 4 via the plurality ofpower rollers 9, and theoutput shaft 3 fixed to thisoutput side disk 4 turns. - To describe how the turning speeds of the
input shaft 1 and theoutput shaft 3 are varied, first where theinput shaft 1 and theoutput shaft 3 are to be decelerated, thetrunnions 7 are rocked around theaxes 6, and eachdisplacement shaft 8 is inclined so that the circumferential faces 9 a of thepower rollers 9 come into contact with the closer-to-the-center part of theinner face 2 a of theinput side disk 2 and the closer-to-the-periphery part of theinner face 4 a of theoutput side disk 4 as shown in FIG. 1. - Conversely, where they are to be accelerated, each of the
trunnions 7 is rocked, and eachdisplacement shaft 8 is inclined so that the circumferential faces 9 a of thepower rollers 9 come into contact with the closer-to-the-periphery part of theinner face 2 a of theinput side disk 2 and the closer-to-the-center part of theinner face 4 a of theoutput side disk 4 as shown in FIG. 2. If the angle of inclination of eachdisplacement shaft 8 is selected between the angles shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, an intermediate gear ratio can be obtained between theinput shaft 1 and theoutput shaft 3. - Further, FIGS. 3 and 4 illustrate more specifically a toroidal type continuous variable speed transmission, described in the microfilm version of the Japanese Utility Model Application No. 63-69293 (Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 1-173552). The
input side disk 2 and theoutput side disk 4 are rotatably supported by atubular input shaft 11. Apressing device 10 is provided between an end part of thisinput shaft 11 and theinput side disk 2. On the other hand, anoutput gear 12 is coupled with theoutput side disk 4, and they rotate in synchronism. -
Axes 6 provided at two ends of a pair oftrunnions 7 concentrically with each other are supported by a pair ofyokes 13 rockingly and rotatably in axial directions (the direction normal to the surface of FIG. 3 and the vertical direction in FIG. 4). A middle part of each of thetrunnions 7 supports the base half of adisplacement shaft 8. The base half and the outer half of each of thedisplacement shafts 8 are mutually eccentric. The base half is rotatably supported by the middle part of eachtrunnion 7, whose outer half rotatably supportspower rollers 9. Between the end parts of thetrunnions 7 is stretched asynchronous cable 27 diagonally so that the angles of inclination of thesetrunnions 7 can be mechanically synchronized. - The pair of
displacement shafts 8 are positioned 180 degrees reverse to theinput shaft 11. The direction in which the base half and the outer half of each of thesedisplacement shafts 8 are eccentric is in the same direction as the turning directions of the input side andoutput side disks 2 and 4 (vertically reverse in FIG. 4). The direction of eccentricity is substantially normal to the direction in which theinput shaft 11 is disposed. Therefore, thepower rollers 9 are supported somewhat rotatably in the direction in which theinput shaft 11 is disposed. - Between the outer face of each of the
power rollers 9 and the inner face of the middle part of each of thetrunnions 7 are provided, from the outer face of thepower roller 9 outward, a thrust ball bearing 14 and a thrust needle bearing 15. Of these bearings, the thrust ball bearing 14, while bearing the load working on thepower rollers 9 in the thrust direction, permits thesepower rollers 9 to turn. Each thrust needle bearing 15, while bearing a thrust load working from thepower roller 9 on anouter race 16 constituting part of the thrust ball bearing 14, permits the outer half of eachdisplacement shaft 8 and theouter race 16 to rock around the base half of eachdisplacement shaft 8. Each of thetrunnions 7 is made displaceable by a hydraulic actuator (hydraulic cylinder) 17 in the axial direction of theaxis 6. - In the toroidal type continuous variable speed transmission configured as described above, the rotation of the
input shaft 11 is transmitted to theinput side disk 2 via thepressing device 10. The rotation of thisinput side disk 2 is further transmitted to theoutput side disk 4 via a pair ofpower rollers 9, and the rotation of thisoutput side disk 4 is then taken out of theoutput gear 12. - When the ratio of turning speed between the
input shaft 11 and theoutput gear 12 is to be changed, thepaired trunnions 7 are displaced in mutually reverse directions with theactuator 17, for instance to move thepower rollers 9 on the righthand side of FIG. 4 toward a lower part of the figure and thepower rollers 9 on the lefthand side of FIG. 4 toward an upper part of the figure. As a result, the direction of tangential force working on contact parts between the circumferential faces 9 a of thesepower rollers 9 and theinner faces input side disk 2 and theoutput side disk 4 changes. Along with this change in the direction of force, thetrunnions 7 rock in mutually reverse directions around theaxes 6 pivoting on theyoke 13. As a result, the contact positions between the circumferential faces 9 a of thepower rollers 9 and theinner faces input shaft 11 and theoutput gear 12 changes. - The feeding and discharging of pressurized oil to the
actuators 17 are controlled with a single control valve irrespective of the number ofactuators 17, and the motion of one of thetrunnions 7 is fed back to this control valve. Whereas the structure of this part is described in, for instance Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 6-257661, and accordingly known to those skilled in the art, a second example of specific structure according to the prior art will now be briefly described with reference to FIG. 7. Acontrol valve 18 has asleeve 20, which is displaced in the axial direction (the lateral direction in FIG. 7) by astepping motor 19 and aspool 21 fitted displaceably in the axial direction on the bore side of thissleeve 20. Aprecess cam 23 is fitted to an end of arod 22 attached to one of thetrunnions 7, and there is configured a feedback mechanism which transmits the motion of therod 22 to thespool 21 via thisprecess cam 23 and alink arm 24. - When the gear ratio is to be changed, the
sleeve 20 is displaced by a prescribed quantity with the steppingmotor 19 to open the channel of thecontrol valve 18. As a result, pressurized oil is fed into each of theactuators 17 in a prescribed direction, and theactuators 17 displace thetrunnions 7 in a prescribed direction. Thus, along with the feeding of the pressurized oil, each of thetrunnions 7, while being displaced in the axial direction of theaxis 6, rocks around theaxis 6. Then the motions of one of the trunnions 7 (in the axial direction and in rocking displacement) are transmitted to thespool 21 via theprecess cam 23 fitted to one end of therod 22 and thelink arm 24 to displace thisspool 21 in the axial direction. As a result, the channel of thecontrol valve 18 is closed in a state in which thetrunnions 7 have been displaced by a prescribed quantity, and the feeding or discharging of to or from theactuator 17 is stopped. Therefore the displacement quantities of thetrunnions 7 in the axial direction and the rocking direction will now be no more than what corresponds to the quantity of displacement of thesleeve 20 by thestepping motor 19. - During power transmission by the toroidal type continuous variable speed transmission, the
power rollers 9 are displaced in the axial direction of theinput shaft 11 according to the elastic deformations of various constituent elements. Then thedisplacement shafts 8 supporting thepower rollers 9 slightly turn around their respective base halves. As a result of this turn, the outer faces of the outer races of thethrust ball bearings 14 and the inner faces of thetrunnions 7 are displaced relative to each other. As there are thethrust needle bearings 15 between these outer faces and inner faces, the force required for these relative displacements is small. - Further, the so-called double cavity structure to increase the transmissible torque by providing, as illustrated in FIGS. 5 through 7, two each of
input side disks output side disks 4 around aninput shaft 11 a and arranging in parallel, with respect to the direction of power transmission, theinput side disk output side disks 4 is also known according to the prior art. This structure shown in FIGS. 5 through 7 supports anoutput gear 12 a around the middle part of theinput shaft 11 a and rotatably with respect to theinput shaft 11 a, and theoutput side disks 4 are spline-engaged with the two ends of a cylindrical portion provided in the core part of thisoutput gear 12 a. Theinput side disks input shaft 11 a to be rotatable with thisinput shaft 11 a. Thisinput shaft 11 a is rotationally driven by adriving shaft 25 via the loading camtype pressing device 10. - In the above-described double cavity toroidal type continuous variable speed transmission, large power can be transmitted because power transmission from the
input shaft 11 a to theoutput gear 12 a is accomplished over two lines, from oneinput side disk 2A to oneoutput side disk 4 and from the otherinput side disk 2B to the otheroutput side disk 4. In such a double cavity toroidal type continuous variable speed transmission, too, for a gear change, thetrunnions 7 are displaced in the axial direction of theaxes 6 by thehydraulic actuators 17. Only onecontrol valve 18 for controlling the feeding and discharging of pressurized oil to and from theactuators 17 is provided for the whole toroidal type continuous variable speed transmission as mentioned above. Thissingle control valve 18 controls the feeding and discharging of pressurized oil to and from the plurality ofactuators 17. - For incorporation of the toroidal type continuous variable speed transmission configured and operating as described into an actual continuous variable speed transmission for automotive use, its combination with a planetary gear mechanism to configure a continuous variable speed transmission has been proposed according to the prior art as described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 1-169169, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 1-312266, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 10-196759, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 11-63146 among others. That is, when the vehicle is running at low speed, the driving force of the engine is transmitted by the toroidal type continuous variable speed transmission alone, and when it is running fast, the driving force is transmitted by the planetary gear mechanism, so that the torque working on the toroidal type continuous variable speed transmission during fast running can be reduced. This configuration can contribute to increasing the durability of the constituent elements of the toroidal type continuous variable speed transmission.
- FIG. 8 illustrates the continuous variable speed transmission described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 10-196759 out of the references cited above. This continuous variable speed transmission has a start clutch30 arranged between the output side end (the right end in FIG. 8) of the
crankshaft 28 of anengine 26, which is the source of driving force, and the input side end (the left end in FIG. 8) of aninput shaft 29. Anoutput shaft 31 for taking out the motive force deriving from the rotation of theinput shaft 29 is arranged in parallel with thisinput shaft 29. Around thisinput shaft 29 is provided a toroidal type continuousvariable speed transmission 32, and around theoutput shaft 31, aplanetary gear mechanism 33. - A
cam plate 34 constituting thepressing device 10 for the toroidal type continuousvariable speed transmission 32 is fixed to a part toward the output side end (toward the right in FIG. 8) in the middle part of theinput shaft 29. Theseinput side disk 2 andoutput side disk 4 are rotatably supported by bearings not shown, including needle bearings, around theinput shaft 29 independently of each other with respect to thisinput shaft 29. Thecam plate 34 and theinput side disk 2 constitute thepressing device 10. Therefore, theinput side disk 2, along with the rotation of theinput shaft 29, rotates while being pressed against theoutput side disk 4. Further, a plurality ofpower rollers 9 are held between theinner face 2 a of theinput side disk 2 and theinner face 4 a of theoutput side disk 4 to constitute the toroidal type continuousvariable speed transmission 32 described above with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4. This toroidal type continuousvariable speed transmission 32 is not limited to single cavity type structures illustrated in FIGS. 8, 3 and 4, but may as well have the double cavity structure described above with reference to FIGS. 5 and 6. A continuous variable speed transmission into which a double cavity toroidal type continuous variable speed transmission is incorporated is described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 11-63146 cited above among others. - A
sun gear 35 constituting the core of theplanetary gear mechanism 33 is fixed to the input side end (the right end in FIG. 8) of theoutput shaft 31. Therefore, thisoutput shaft 31 rotates along with the rotation of thesun gear 35. Around thissun gear 35 are supported ring gears 36 concentrically and rotatably with thesun gear 35. Between the inner circumferential faces of these ring gears 36 and the outer circumferential face of thesun gear 35 are provided a plurality of (usually three or four) planetary gear sets 37. In the illustrated example, each of these planetary gear sets 37 consists of a pair ofplanetary gears planetary gears planetary gear 38 a is engaged with the ring gears 36 and the internally arrangedplanetary gear 38 b is engaged with thesun gear 35. This configuration of each planetary gear set 37 comprising a pair ofplanetary gears sun gear 35. Therefore, if relations with other constituent elements make it unnecessary to align the turning directions of the ring gears 36 and of thesun gear 35, a single planetary gear may be engaged with both the ring gears 36 and thesun gear 35 instead. The planetary gear sets 37 described above are supported rotatably on one side face (the right side face in FIG. 8) of acarrier 39. Thiscarrier 39 is rotatably supported by the middle part of theoutput shaft 31. - The
carrier 39 and theoutput side disk 4 is connected by a firstpower transmission mechanism 40 in a state where rotational force can be transmitted. The firstpower transmission mechanism 40 constituting a first power transmission path stated inclaim 2 of the cited specification is configured of mutually engaged first andsecond gears carrier 39 turns at a speed matching the numbers of teeth of the first andsecond gears output side disk 4 in the direction reverse to that of thisoutput side disk 4. - On the other hand, the
input shaft 29 and the ring gears 36 can be connected by a secondpower transmission mechanism 43 in a state permitting transmission of rotational force. The secondpower transmission mechanism 43, which constitutes a second power transmission path stated inclaim 2 of the cited specification, is configured of first andsecond sprockets chain 46 spanning between these twosprockets first sprocket 44 is fixed to a part projecting from thecam plate 34 at the output side end (the right end in FIG. 8) of theinput shaft 29, and thesecond sprocket 45 is fixed to the input side end (the right end in FIG. 8) of atransmission shaft 47. Therefore, thistransmission shaft 47 turns along with the rotation of theinput shaft 29 in the same direction as thisinput shaft 29 at a speed matching the numbers of teeth of the first andsecond sprockets - The continuous variable speed transmission is provided with a clutch mechanism constituting mode switching member stated in
claim 2 of the cited specification. This clutch mechanism connects either, not both, thecarrier 39 or thetransmission shaft 47, which is a constituent member of the secondpower transmission mechanism 43, to the ring gears 36. In the structure illustrated in FIG. 8, this clutch mechanism consists of alow speed clutch 48 and ahigh speed clutch 49. Of these clutches, thelow speed clutch 48 is provided between the outer periphery of thecarrier 39 and one end of the ring gears 36 in the axial direction (the left end in FIG. 8). Thislow speed clutch 48, when engaged, prevents relative displacement among thesun gear 35 and the ring gears 36 constituting theplanetary gear mechanism 33 relative to the planetary gear sets 37, and integrally couples thesesun gear 35 and ring gears 36. Thehigh speed clutch 49 is provided between thetransmission shaft 47 and thecentral axis 51 fixed to the ring gears 36 via ayoke 50. Of theselow speed clutch 48 andhigh speed clutch 49, when one of them is engaged, the other is disengaged. - In the example of FIG. 8, a reverse clutch52 is provided between the ring gears 36 and fixed parts including a housing (not shown) for the continuous variable speed transmission. This reverse clutch 52 is provided to turn the
output shaft 31 in the reverse direction to cause the vehicle to run backward. This reverse clutch 52 is disengaged when either thelow speed clutch 48 or thehigh speed clutch 49 is engaged. When this reverse clutch 52 is engaged, both thelow speed clutch 48 and the high speed clutch 49 are disengaged. Further in the illustrated example, theoutput shaft 31 and adifferential gear 53 are connected to a thirdpower transmission mechanism 57 consisting of third through firth gears 54 through 56. Therefore, when theoutput shaft 31 rotates, a pair of drivingshafts 58 are turned via these thirdpower transmission mechanism 57 anddifferential gear 53 to cause the driving wheels of the vehicle to rotate. - In the continuous variable speed transmission configured as described above, first in running at low speed, the
low speed clutch 48 is engaged, and thehigh speed clutch 49 and the reverse clutch 52 are disengaged. When thestart clutch 30 is connected and theinput shaft 29 is turned, only the toroidal type continuousvariable speed transmission 32 transmits power from thisinput shaft 29 to theoutput shaft 31. The action itself to change the gear ratio between the input side andoutput side disk input shaft 29 and theoutput shaft 31, i.e. the total gear ratio of the continuous variable speed transmission, is proportional to the gear ratio of the toroidal type continuousvariable speed transmission 32. In this state, the torque inputted to this toroidal type continuousvariable speed transmission 32 is equal to the torque applied to theinput shaft 29. - During fast running, the
high speed clutch 49 is engaged, and thelow speed clutch 48 and the reverse clutch 52 are disengaged. In this state, thestart clutch 30 is also engaged. When theinput shaft 29 is turned then, power is transmitted from theinput shaft 29 to theoutput shaft 31 by the first andsecond sprockets chain 46 constituting the secondpower transmission mechanism 43 and theplanetary gear mechanism 33. - That is, when the
input shaft 29 turns during the fast running, this rotation is transmitted via the secondpower transmission mechanism 43 and the high speed clutch 49 to thecentral axis 51, and causes the ring gears 36 fixed to thecentral axis 51 to turn. The rotation of these ring gears 36 is transmitted via the plurality of planetary gear sets 37 to thesun gear 35, and causes theoutput shaft 31 to which thissun gear 35 is fixed to rotate. Supposing that the planetary gear sets 37 are at halt (they do not revolve around the sun gear 35) when the ring gears 36 come to the input side, theplanetary gear mechanism 33 accelerates at a gear ratio matching the ratio of the numbers of teeth between the ring gears 36 and thesun gear 35. However, the planetary gear sets 37 revolve around thesun gear 35, and the total gear ratio of the continuous variable speed transmission varies according to the revolving speed of each of the planetary gear sets 37. Therefore, by varying the gear ratio of the toroidal type continuousvariable speed transmission 32 and the revolving speed of the planetary gear sets 37, the total gear ratio of the continuous variable speed transmission can be controlled. - Thus, during the fast running, each of the planetary gear sets37 revolves in the same direction as the ring gears 36. The lower the revolving speed of the planetary gear sets 37, the higher the rotating speed of the
output shaft 31 to which thesun gear 35 is fixed. For instance, if the revolving speed and the rotational speed of the ring gears 36 (both are angular velocities) are equal, the ring gears 36 and theoutput shaft 31 will turn at the same speed. If the revolving speed is lower than the rotational speed of the ring gears 36, theoutput shaft 31 will turn faster than the ring gears 36. Conversely, if the revolving speed is higher than the rotational speed of the ring gears 36, theoutput shaft 31 will turn less fast than the ring gears 36. - Therefore, during the fast running, the more the gear ratio of toroidal type continuous
variable speed transmission 32 varies toward the deceleration side, the more will the total gear ratio of the continuous variable speed transmission vary toward the acceleration side. In such a state of fast running, a torque works on the toroidal type continuousvariable speed transmission 32 not from theinput side disk 2 but from the output side disk 4 (if the torque working at low speed is regarded as a plus torque, a minus torque will work). Thus, in a state wherein thehigh speed clutch 49 is engaged, the torque transmitted from theengine 26 to theinput shaft 29 is transmitted, before thepressing device 10 presses theinput side disk 2, to the ring gears 36 of theplanetary gear mechanism 33 via the secondpower transmission mechanism 43. Therefore, almost no torque is transmitted from theinput shaft 29 side via thepressing device 10 to theinput side disk 2. - On the other hand, part of the torque transmitted via the second
power transmission mechanism 43 to the ring gears 36 of theplanetary gear mechanism 33 is transmitted from the planetary gear sets 37 via thecarrier 39 and the firstpower transmission mechanism 40 to theoutput side disk 4. Thus the torque applied from theoutput side disk 4 to the toroidal type continuousvariable speed transmission 32 decreases as the gear ratio of the toroidal type continuousvariable speed transmission 32 is varied more toward the deceleration side so as to vary the total gear ratio of the continuous variable speed transmission toward the acceleration side. As a result, by reducing the torque inputted to the toroidal type continuousvariable speed transmission 32 during fast running, the durability of the constituent elements of this toroidal type continuousvariable speed transmission 32 can be enhanced. - When the
output shaft 31 is turned in the reverse direction to cause the vehicle to run backward, the low speed andhigh speed clutches sun gear 35, revolve around thissun gear 35. Thesun gear 35 and theoutput shaft 31 to which thissun gear 35 is fixed rotate in the direction reverse to that during the low speed and high speed running. - FIG. 9 illustrates a typical state of variations, with the total gear ratio (itotal) of the continuous variable speed transmission shown in FIG. 8 above being continuously varied, in the gear ratio of the toroidal type continuous variable speed transmission32 (icvt), the input torque (Tin) inputted to this toroidal type continuous
variable speed transmission 32 and the output torque (Ts) taken out of theoutput shaft 31 of the continuous variable speed transmission. The relationships among these gear ratios (itotal) and (icvt) and the torques (Tin) and (Ts) vary with the speed change range of the toroidal type continuousvariable speed transmission 32, the structure and tooth number ratio of theplanetary gear mechanism 33, and the reduction gear ratio of the secondpower transmission mechanism 43. As conditions for obtaining the lines drawn in FIG. 9, the speed change range of the toroidal type continuousvariable speed transmission 32 was selected to be up to about four times (0.5 to 2.0), theplanetary gear mechanism 33 was supposed to be composed of planetary gear sets 37 each consisting of a pair ofplanetary gears power transmission mechanism 43 was selected to be about two. Switching between thelow speed clutch 48 and thehigh speed clutch 49 was supposed to be done when the total gear ratio (itotal) of the continuous variable speed transmission was one. - In FIG. 9 showing the results of calculation under the conditions stated above, the vertical axis represents the gear ratio (icvt) of the toroidal type continuous
variable speed transmission 32 and the ratio between the input torque (Tin) of the toroidal type continuousvariable speed transmission 32 or the output torque (Ts) of the continuous variable speed transmission and the (Te) transmitted from theengine 26 to the input shaft 29 (FIG. 8) (Tin/Te) or (Ts/Te), and the horizontal axis, the total gear ratio (itotal) of the continuous variable speed transmission. The negative value of the gear ratio (icvt) of the toroidal type continuousvariable speed transmission 32 is because of the reverse direction of the rotation of the output side disk 4 (FIG. 8) incorporated into the toroidal type continuousvariable speed transmission 32 to that of theinput shaft 29. The solid line a represents the gear ratio (icvt) of the toroidal type continuousvariable speed transmission 32; the broken line b, the ratio between the output torque (Ts) and the torque (Te) transmitted from theengine 26 to the input shaft 29 (Ts/Te); and the chain line c, the ratio between the input torque (Tin) and the torque (Te) transmitted from theengine 26 to the output shaft 29 (Tin/Te). As is evident from the description with reference to FIG. 9, the continuous variable speed transmission described above with reference to FIG. 8 can serve to reduce the torque working on the toroidal type continuousvariable speed transmission 32 during fast running. Under the conditions the results shown in FIG. 9 were obtained, the input torque (Tin) can be reduced at the maximum to about 14% of the torque (Te) transmitted from theengine 26 to theinput shaft 29. - The toroidal type continuous variable speed transmission to be used in the state of being incorporated into the continuous variable speed transmission described above involves the risk of unnecessary variation of the gear ratio, irrespective of the open/close control of the
control valve 18 by theprecess cam 23, under the impact of elastic deformation of constituent elements of the toroidal type continuousvariable speed transmission 32 when the input torque varies. This unnecessary variation of the gear ratio might invite an abrupt change in engine revolutions and a consequent uncomfortable feeling on the part of the driver. This point will be explained below with reference to FIGS. 10 and 11. - The
precess cam 23 is supported by and fixed to the tip (the right end in FIG. 10) or therod 22 whose base end (the left end in FIG. 10) is coupled and fixed to one of thetrunnions 7. On the other hand, during the operation of the toroidal type continuous variable speed transmission, thetrunnion 7 is subjected to a heavy thrust load F from thepower rollers 9 supported on its inner face side. The inner face of thetrunnion 7 is elastically deformed in the direction of making that side concave according to this thrust load, and according to this elastic deformation therod 22 whose base end is coupled and fixed to an end of thetrunnion 7 is deformed in the direction of arrow (in FIG. 10. Measurement by the present inventors of the displacement of the tip of therod 22 with adisplacement sensor 59 while varying the thrust load applied to thepower rollers 9 with both ends of thetrunnion 7 being supported as illustrated in FIG. 10 gave the results shown in FIG. 11. That is, the heavier the thrust load, the greater the displacement of the tip of therod 22, to which theprecess cam 23 is to be fitted, in the radial direction. - The prior art gave no consideration to suppressing gear ratio variations due to such displacement of the tip of the
rod 22. As a consequence, when the torque inputted to the toroidal type continuous variable speed transmission is greatly varied by the treading on or releasing of the accelerator or otherwise, the resultant unnecessary variation of the gear ratio might invite an abrupt change in engine revolutions and a consequent uncomfortable feeling on the part of the driver as noted above. Especially in the case of the continuous variable speed transmission described above with reference to FIG. 8, an unnecessary variation is more likely to occur when switching between the low speed and high speed modes because the torque transmitted to the toroidal type continuousvariable speed transmission 32 is switched between positive and negative values (the direction of the transmission of motive force changes). - The present inventors found by experiment that the fitting posture of the
precess cam 23 relative to therod 22 affected the magnitude of the gear ratio variation, and on that basis invented a toroidal type continuous variable speed transmission capable of suppressing the unnecessary gear ratio variation. - A toroidal type continuous variable speed transmission according to the present invention, like the known toroidal type continuous variable speed transmissions described above, comprises: an input side disk and an output side disk whose inner faces, each being a concave having a circular section, oppose each other, each disk being concentrically and rotatably supported; a plurality of trunnions rocking around axes each being skew with respect to the central axis of these input side disk and output side disk; displacement shafts each supported by a middle part of one or another of the trunnions so as to project from the inner face of the trunnion; power rollers arranged on the inner face side of these trunnions and, in a state of being put between the input side disk and the output side disk, supported rotatably around the displacement shafts, each power roller having a spherically convex circumferential face; hydraulic actuators, one provided for each trunnion to rockingly displace the trunnion by displacing it around an axis in the axial direction and thereby vary the gear ratio between the input side disk and the output side disk; and a control valve for switching the feeding/discharging state of pressurized oil to and from each of the hydraulic actuators. A precess cam is fixed to a member displaced together with one of the trunnions, and a feedback mechanism to transmit the displacement of this precess cam to the control valve via a link arm is provided so as to transmit the motion of the trunnion to this control valve and thereby to make possible switching of the feeding/discharging state by this control valve.
- Especially in the toroidal type continuous variable speed transmission according to the invention, the position of contact between the precess cam and the link arm is placed closer to the input side disk than the central axis of the trunnion provided with the precess cam.
- The toroidal type continuous variable speed transmission according to the invention is intended to suppress any variation of the gear ratio due to an abrupt change in torque and thereby to reduce a consequent uncomfortable feeling on the part of the driver.
- Experiment by the inventors filing this application revealed that, where the position of contact between the precess cam and the link arm was placed closer to the input side disk than the central axis of the trunnion provided with the precess cam, the gear ratio variation could be suppressed more than in the case of placing the position of contact elsewhere, so that the above-noted object could be achieved.
- FIG. 1 is a side view of the basic structure of a toroidal type continuous variable speed transmission at the time of maximum deceleration;
- FIG. 2 is a side view of the basic structure of the toroidal type continuous variable speed transmission at the time of maximum acceleration;
- FIG. 3 illustrates a cross-sectional view of the essential part of an example of a specific toroidal type continuous variable speed transmission structure according to the prior art;
- FIG. 4 shows a cross-sectional view of the structure of FIG. 3 taken along the line4-4;
- FIG. 5 illustrates a cross-sectional view of the essential part of another example of a specific toroidal type continuous variable speed transmission structure according to the prior art;
- FIG. 6 shows a cross-sectional view of the structure of FIG. 5 taken along the line6-6;
- FIG. 7 shows a cross-sectional view of the structure of FIG. 5 taken along the line7-7;
- FIG. 8 illustrates a cross-sectional view of one example of continuous variable speed transmission into which a toroidal type continuous variable speed transmission is incorporated;
- FIG. 9 is a graph showing the relationship among the total gear ratio of the continuous variable speed transmission ratio, the gear ratio of the toroidal type continuous variable speed transmission alone, and the torque ratios of different parts of the system;
- FIG. 10 shows a cross-sectional view for illustrating how an experiment was carried out to measure the displacement of a precess cam based on the deformation of a trunnion;
- FIG. 11 is a graph showing the relationship between the torque working on trunnions figured out on the basis of experimental results and the displacement of the precess cam;
- FIG. 12 illustrates a toroidal type continuous variable speed transmission, which is a first preferred embodiment of the present invention;
- FIG. 13 is a graph showing variations in gear ratio along with input torque variations in the toroidal type continuous variable speed transmission according to the invention;
- FIG. 14 illustrates the bottom of one example of toroidal type continuous variable speed transmission outside the scope of the invention;
- FIG. 15 is a graph showing variations in gear ratio along with input torque variations in the toroidal type continuous variable speed transmission outside the scope of the invention; and
- FIG. 16 is a graph showing the relationship between the input torque magnitude and the total gear ratio in the toroidal type continuous variable speed transmission according to the invention and the toroidal type continuous variable speed transmission outside the scope of the invention.
- <First Embodiment>
- The toroidal type continuous variable speed transmission according to the present invention is characterized by the regulation of the position of contact between the
precess cam 23 and thelink arm 24 to suppress gear ratio variations deriving from torque variations. Structures of other illustrated constituent elements and actions to transmit power between the input and output sections or to change the gear ratio between these input and output sections are similar to their respective counterparts in the known toroidal type continuous variable speed transmission described above with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4 and FIGS. 5 through 7 or in the known toroidal type continuousvariable speed transmission 32 incorporated into the continuous variable speed transmission illustrated in FIG. 8. Description of similar parts is dispensed with in the following. - FIG. 12 illustrates a state in which the invention is implemented in the form of a double cavity toroidal type continuous variable speed transmission described above with reference to FIGS. 5 through 7. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 12, two
input side disks output side disks 4 are arranged toward the center. Aprecess cam 23 is supported by and fixed to the tip of arod 22, the one positioned in the bottom left part of FIG. 12, out of fourrods 22 the base end of each of which is coupled and fixed to one end of one or another of a total four trunnions, of which two are provided in each cavity. The tip of alink arm 24 is kept in contact with thecam face 60 of thisprecess cam 23. When the toroidal type continuous variable speed transmission is to change the speed, therod 22 rotates in the skew direction while being displaced in the axial direction (the direction normal to the surface of FIG. 12), and thereby rotates thelink arm 24. Aspool 21, which is on a skew line to therod 22 and constitutes a control valve is displaced in the axial direction (the vertical direction in FIG. 12). - In particular in the toroidal type continuous variable speed transmission according to the invention, the
link arm 24 is positioned closer to theinput side disk 2A side (the left side in FIG. 12) than therod 22. Therefore, the position of contact between thecam face 60 of theprecess cam 23 and the tip of thelink arm 24 is in a position closer to theinput side disk 2A than the central axis of the trunnion provided with thisprecess cam 23, i.e. the central axis of therod 22. - The toroidal type continuous variable speed transmission according to the invention configured as described above can suppress any variation of the gear ratio due to an abrupt change in torque and thereby reduce a consequent uncomfortable feeling on the part of the driver. That is, experiment by the inventors revealed that, where the position of contact between the
cam face 60 of theprecess cam 23 and thelink arm 24 was placed closer to theinput side disk 2A than the central axis of the trunnion provided with theprecess cam 23, which is the central axis of therod 22, the gear ratio variation could be suppressed more than in the case of placing the position of contact elsewhere. This point will be described in further detail with reference to FIGS. 13 through 16. - First, FIG. 13 shows the result of an experiment carried out to know the impact of variations in the torque inputted to a toroidal type continuous variable speed transmission on the gear ratio of this toroidal type continuous variable speed transmission in a structure wherein, as shown in FIG. 12, the position of contact between the
cam face 60 of theprecess cam 23 and the tip of thelink arm 24 is brought closer to theinput side disk 2A side. In FIG. 13 showing the result of such an experiment, a curve a represents the magnitude of the torque inputted to the toroidal type continuous variable speed transmission, and a curve b, the gear ratio of this toroidal type continuous variable speed transmission. As is evident from this FIG. 13, in the case of the structure according to the invention, although the gear ratio varies toward the deceleration relatively significantly in the early phase of increasing the input torque, the gear ratio gradually decreases as the torque is further increased. Therefore, the gear ratio does not vary so significantly over the whole range of torque variations. - FIG. 14 illustrates a toroidal type continuous variable speed transmission in which the position of contact between the
cam face 60 of theprecess cam 23 and the tip of thelink arm 24 is brought closer to theoutput side disk 4 side. FIG. 15 shows the result of an experiment carried out to know the impact of variations in the torque inputted to a toroidal type continuous variable speed transmission on the gear ratio of the toroidal type continuous variable speed transmission shown in FIG. 14. In the result of such an experiment, a curve a′ represents the magnitude of the torque inputted to the toroidal type continuous variable speed transmission, and a curve b′, the gear ratio of this toroidal type continuous variable speed transmission. As is evident from this FIG. 15, in the case of the structure deviating from the invention, the gear ratio varies toward the deceleration relatively significantly in the early phase of increasing the input torque, and the gear ratio gradually increases as the torque is further increased. Therefore, the gear ratio varies significantly over the whole range of torque variations. - FIG. 16 compares the experimental result regarding the structure according to the invention shown in FIG. 13 and that of the structure deviating from the invention shown in FIG. 15. In this FIG. 16, a curve c represents the gear ratio represented by the curve b in FIG. 13 in terms of its relationship to the torque represented by the curve a in the same graph. A curve d represents the gear ratio represented by the curve b′ in FIG. 15 in terms of its relationship to the torque represented by the curve a′ in the same graph. As the curves c and d show cases in which the torque is increased and decreased, respectively, the middle parts are double lines based on the hysteresis. As is evident from the comparison of the respective varying ranges Lc and Ld of the curves c and d in this FIG. 16, the structure according to the invention can reduce the range of gear ratio variations deriving from torque variations.
- As described so far, the structure according to the invention can reduce the range of gear ratio variations and thereby alleviate the uncomfortable feeling the driver might have. In particular in the continuous variable speed transmission shown in FIG. 8, although the torque inputted to the toroidal type continuous
variable speed transmission 32 at the time of mode switching greatly varies including reversing between positive and negative values, the gear ratio variations can be suppressed even in this case. Incidentally, in the continuous variable speed transmission shown in FIG. 8 the switching between the low speed and high speed modes is performed when the gear ratio of the toroidal type continuousvariable speed transmission 32 is on the acceleration side. The curves c and d in FIG. 16, for instance, derive from measurement done when the gear ratio of the continuous variable speed transmission was in the vicinity of 1, a similar qualitative tendency is manifested even when the gear ratio is on the acceleration side. Supposing a case in which the torque varies along with mode switching when the gear ratio of the toroidal type continuous variable speed transmission is in the vicinity of 1 (the input torque varies between “+300N·m” and “−150N·m”), while the gear ratio of the structure according to the invention varied only from 1.06 to 0.95, that of the structure deviating from the invention varied more widely, from 1.15 to 0.92. If this gear ratio varies so significantly, control to newly compensate for this variation should be instantaneously effected to prevent the driver from feeling uncomfortable. The greater the variation, the more troublesome this control will be, but the control is facilitated by the structure according to the invention because it can reduce the range of variations. - The foregoing description referred to a so-called power split continuous variable speed transmission system combining a toroidal type continuous variable speed transmission and a planetary gear mechanism, which reduces the toque working on the toroidal type continuous variable speed transmission during high speed running and thereby increases the durability of the constituent elements of the toroidal type continuous variable speed transmission by transmitting the driving force of the engine via the toroidal type continuous variable speed transmission alone during low speed running and transmitting the driving force via the planetary gear mechanism during high speed running. The invention, however, can also be effectively applied to a toroidal type continuous variable speed transmission to be incorporated into a so-called geared neutral continuous variable speed transmission system, which combines a toroidal type continuous variable speed transmission and a planetary gear mechanism and can realize zero output revolutions without having to use a start clutch.
- In a geared neutral continuous variable speed transmission system, the rotation of the sun gear of the planetary gear mechanism downstream, for instance, is driven by the output shaft of the toroidal type continuous variable speed transmission, and the rotation of the carrier of the planetary gear mechanism is driven by a circuit bypassing this toroidal type continuous variable speed transmission. In the low speed mode, power is transmitted by the circuit going through the toroidal type continuous variable speed transmission and the circuit bypassing it, and the differential component of the planetary gears is taken out for use as the output. In the high speed mode, on the other hand, power is transmitted by the toroidal type continuous variable speed transmission alone. In such a geared neutral continuous variable speed transmission system, switching between the low speed and high speed modes is performed when the gear ratio of the toroidal type continuous variable speed transmission is on the deceleration side. As the torque working on the toroidal type continuous variable speed transmission is switched between positive and negative values at the time of mode switching in the case of a geared neutral continuous variable speed transmission system as well, the advantage of the invention can be fully achieved.
- As hitherto described, according to the invention under the present application, there can be realized a toroidal type continuous variable speed transmission which requires no particularly troublesome control and moreover keeps the driver free from any uncomfortable feeling.
Claims (2)
1. A toroidal type continuous variable speed transmission, comprising:
an input side disk and an output side disk sharing the same center, each having a circular concave, the inner faces of said disks opposing each other, and each being rotatably supported;
a plurality of trunnions rocking around axes, each axis being skew with respect to the central axis of the input side disk and output side disk;
displacement shafts supported at middle parts of the respective trunnions so as to project from the inner faces of the trunnions;
power rollers each of which has a spherically convex circumferential face and is supported rotatably around the displacement shaft, the power rollers being positioned at the inner face side of the respective trunnions and put between the input side disk and the output side disk;
hydraulic actuators each of which is provided on each trunnion the hydraulic actuator varying the gear ratio between the input side disk and the output side disk by a rocking displacement of the trunnion about the axis caused by an axial displacement of the axis of the trunnion; and
a control valve for switching the feeding/discharging state of pressurized oil to and from each of the hydraulic actuators,
wherein a precess cam is fixed to a member to be displaced together with one of the trunnions;
wherein the motion of the trunnion is transmitted to the control valve by a feedback mechanism for transmitting the displacement of the precess cam to the control valve via a link arm to make possible switching of the feeding/discharging state by this control valve; and
wherein the position of contact between the precess cam and the link arm is closer to the input side disk than the central axis of the trunnion provided with the precess cam is.
2. The toroidal type continuous variable speed transmission according to , wherein the toroidal type continuous variable speed transmission is incorporated into a continuous variable speed transmission apparatus,
claim 1
wherein the continuous variable speed transmission apparatus comprises:
an input shaft connected to a driving force source and rotationally driven by the driving force source;
an output shaft for taking out power deriving from the rotation of the input shaft;
a planetary gear mechanism including a sun gear, ring gears arranged around the sun gear, and planetary gears engaged with the sun gear and the ring gears, the planetary gears being arranged between the sun gear and the ring gears and rotatably supported by a carrier rotatably supported concentrically with the sun gear;
a first power transmission path for transmitting power, which is inputted to the toroidal type continuous variable speed transmission, the planetary gear mechanism and said input shaft, via the toroidal type continuous variable speed transmission; and
a second power transmission path for transmitting power inputted to said input shaft without the toroidal type continuous variable speed transmission;
wherein the planetary gear mechanism makes power fed via said first power transmission path and power fed via said second power transmission path transmissible to two items out of said sun gear, said ring gears and said carrier and couples said output shaft with the remaining one item,
wherein mode switching member is provided to switch to and from a state in which power inputted to said input shaft is fed to said planetary gear mechanism via said first power transmission path and said second power transmission path,
and wherein the mode switching member performs switching at least between a first mode in which power is transmitted over said first power transmission path alone and a second mode in which power is transmitted over both the first power transmission path and the second power transmission path.
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
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JP2000136068A JP2001317601A (en) | 2000-05-09 | 2000-05-09 | Troidal type continuously variable transmission |
JP2000-136068 | 2000-05-09 |
Publications (2)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
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US20010041642A1 true US20010041642A1 (en) | 2001-11-15 |
US6514168B2 US6514168B2 (en) | 2003-02-04 |
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Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
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US09/850,148 Expired - Lifetime US6514168B2 (en) | 2000-05-09 | 2001-05-08 | Toroidal type continuous variable speed transmission |
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US (1) | US6514168B2 (en) |
JP (1) | JP2001317601A (en) |
DE (1) | DE10122176A1 (en) |
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- 2001-05-08 DE DE10122176A patent/DE10122176A1/en not_active Ceased
- 2001-05-08 US US09/850,148 patent/US6514168B2/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
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Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
DE10122176A1 (en) | 2001-11-29 |
US6514168B2 (en) | 2003-02-04 |
JP2001317601A (en) | 2001-11-16 |
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